Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-04-13

But she comprehenueo NM nssonay, o@Au ~
hopelessly silent.
"Ef you'll take my advice" continued Jack,
placing bis watch and chain under his pillow
and quietly unloosing his cravat, 1you'u quit
this yer forlin', marry that chap and hand
over to him the money and the money maxim
that's killin you. He'll get rid OF 1t soon
enough. don't say this because 1 expect to
git it; for when he's got that much OF raise
he'll make break for Frisco, and lose It to
some frst-class sport there. don't say,
neither that you mayn't be In luck enough
to reform him. don't say, neither-and It's
derned sight more likely!-that you maynf
be luckier yet, and he'll up and die afore hs
gifts rid of your money. But do say you'll
make him happy now; andr es I reckon
you're about ez badly stuck after that chap
ez ever saw any woman, you won't b
hurtin' your own feelins either"
The blood left Pegs face as she looked up.
aBut that's ,chy can't give him the moEsy--
and he won't marry me without It."
Mr.. Hamlin's hand dropped from the last
button Of his waistcoat @Cant-give-him
-the-moneyi" he repeated, slowly.
"No."
3Whyp
3Because-because lore him"
Mr.. Hamlin rebuttoned his waistcoat and
sat down patiently on the bed. Peg arose
and awkwardly drew the portmanteau
little nearer to him.
"When Jim Byways left me this yer
property" she began, looking cautiously
around, "he left it to me on conditions; not
conditions ez waz in his prittsn will, but
conditions ez wax spoken. A promise
made him IN this very room, Mr.. Hamlin-
this very room, and on that very bed you're
sittin' on, In which he died"
Like most gamblers, Mr.. Hamlin was super.
stitious. He rose hastily from the bed and
took chair beside the window. The wind
shook 1t as il the discontented spirit of Mr..
Byways were without, reinforcing his last
injunction. ... ..
II don't know if you remember him." said
Peg, feverishly. "He was q man eE he'd SUI
fered. All that lie loved-wne, fah,nerly,
friends-had gone back on him. He tried to
make light Of it afore folks, but with me,
being poor gal, he let himself out. never
told anybody this. Idont know why he told
mel don't know" continued Peg, with
sniffie, awhy he wanted to make me unhappy,
too. But he made me promise that, II he left
me his fortune, I'd never, never-so help mo
God-never share it with any man or woman
that loved. didn't think 1t would be hard
to keep that promise then, Mr.. Hamlin, for !
was very poor and hedn't friend nor hv.
ing bein' that was kind to me but him"
"But you've as good as broken your prom
;se already" said Hamlin. you've given
Jack money" as know"
aOnly what made myself. Listen to me,
Mr.. Hamlin When Jack proposed to me,
offered him about what kalkilated could
earn myself. When lie went away, and was
sick and in trouble, came here and took this
hotel knew that by hard work ! could
make It pay. Don't laugh at me, please. ]
did work hard, and did make il pay-withous
taiin' one cent of the fortin,. And all !
made, workin' by night and day, gave TO
him. did, Mr.. Hamlin. amt 80 hard to
him as you think, though I might be kinder,
I know"
Mr.. Hanlin rose, deliberately resumed his
coat, watch hat and overcoat When he waa
completely dressed again he turned to Peg.
aDo you mean to say that you've been givin'
all the money you made here to this Al hrst
class cherubimw
ayes; but he didn't know where got It.
Oh, Mr.. Hamlin! he didn't know that"
"Do understand you. that he's bin buck.
ing agin faro with the money that you raised
on hasn't And you maxim the hasn't"
GBut he didn't know that He wouldn't
hev took it If I'd told him"
mo, he'd hev died fust!" said Mr.. Hanlin
gravely. aWhy, he's that sendtve-is Jack
Folinsbee-that it nearly kills him to take
money even of me. But where does this
angel reside when he isn't flghtin' the tiger,
and is, so to speak, visible to the naked eyer
sHe-he-stops here" said Peg, with an
awkward blush.
~ see. Might I ask the number OF hI
room-or should be a-disturbing him IN
his neditationsi" continued Jack Hamlin,
with grave politeness.
"Oh! then you'll promisei And you'll talk
to him, and make hin. promiser
9Of course" said Hamlin quietly.
aAnd you'll remember he's sick-very dcki
His rooms No. A, at the end Of the hall Per-
haps I'd better 60 with your
"I'll find It,"
sand YOU won't be too hard on hfnT
"I'll be a father to him." said Haulin de-
,nurely, as he opened the door and stepped
into the hall. But he hesitated moment,
and then turned and gravely held out hta
hand. Peg took it timidly. BE did not seem
quite in earnest; and his black eyes, vainly
questioned, indicated nothing. But he shook
her hand warmly, and the next moment was
gone.
He found the room with no difficulty. A
faint cough from within, and a querulous
protest, answered his knock. Mr.. Hsmim
entered without further ceremony. A sick
ening smell Of drugs, palpebleF flavor OF
stale dissipation and the wasted figure OF
Jack Folinshee, half dressed, extended upon
the bed, greeted him. Mr.. Hamlin was for
an instant startled. There were hollow cir.
cles round the sick mans eyes; there was
palsy in bis trembling limbs; there was disso-
luton in his feverish breath.
"What's upr he asked huskily and nerv.
ously.
~ am, and want you to get up too."
II can't, Jack. I'm regularly done up"
He reached his shaking hand toward glass
half filed with suspicious, pungent smelling
liquid; but Mr. Hamlin stayed it
sDo you want to get back that 81, 900 you
lost3"
"Yes."
"Well, get up, and marry that woman
| down stairs"
Folinsbee laughed half Historically, half
sardonically.
"She won't give it to me-"
"No; but 1 will"
"Youp
| ayes"
Folinsbee, with an attempt at reckless
laugh, rose, trembling and with difficulty, to
his swollen feet Hamlin eyed him narrow.
", and then bade him lie down again. ITO
morrow will do," he said, and then" -
"If don't" -
@If you DON'T" responded Hamlin, "~hy,
I'll just wade in and cut you out!h
But on the morrow Mr.. Hanlin was spared